Innovation, The VIA Way: Here Comes The Bike Lid

The VIA's new Bike Lids on display at San Antonio’s Medical Center Transit Station.

Credit Eileen Pace

Some San Antonio commuters load their bikes onto VIA bus racks. But now, if they don’t need their bikes at the other end, there’s an option — VIA’s new 'Bike Lids.'

Perhaps there’s no place at work to store a bicycle. Or perhaps the bus drops the rider off so close to their destination that the bike won’t be needed. Enter the Bike Lid, covered parking for your bike. You can’t miss the series of racks with the big plastic helmets on top.

At the San Antonio Medical Center Transit Station, VIA’s Abigail Rodriguez last Saturday showed off the newest pilot program for commuters who ride their bikes to the bus stop but don’t want to take them to work.

“They are first-come first-served, and they are free to use. You bring your own lock. They’re spring-loaded, and it’s recycled plastic. It looks like a shell, and it goes over your bike,” said Rodriguez.

She added the pilot program started about six months ago with a set of 10 Bike Lids at the Medical Center. The next phase will add Bike Lids at the Ingram Transit Station.

San Antonio City Council Member Ron Nirenberg checks out a Bike Lid at VIA's Medical Center Transit Station

Credit Eileen Pace

City Councilman Ron Nirenberg likes the idea of working out and then touring San Antonio. “You could ride your bike all the way around the city on the linear creekways, park it at one of these stations, and then take a bus wherever you want to go in the entire city," he said.

Rodriguez said VIA doesn’t have numbers on the usage yet, but … “People like the idea.”

The Bike Lid holds two bikes, and they’re open at the bottom but are mostly protected from the weather. VIA said they’re so secure that Homeland Security gave its stamp of approval.